CHENNAI: As the festive season kicks in, preparations to make it memorable have started. For some, this means covering troughs of dry fruits and nuts with liquor. Le Royal Meridien held a cake mixing ceremony on Saturday, where close to 84 kg of dry fruits and nuts were mixed with around 12 litres of alcohol. Actress Sakshi Agarwal, managing director of the hotel Chennimalai, director of food and beverages at Le Royal Meridien Paul Raj, executive sous chef Rajesh, senior sous chef Nanda and pastry chef Veera were present.
“The mix should be soaked for at least 40 days. That helps the mix mature. With this amount, we can make 150 kg of cake. We will make it based on orders,” said chef Nanda. The mix has cashewnuts, cherries, pistachio, ginger chops, orange peel, lemon peel, dates, black currants and tutti-frutti.
The staff also joined the cake-mixing ceremony, which is an annual Christmas event. Everyone donned the chef’s hat, gloves and aprons provided by the hotel, and poured whiskey, rum, brandy and wine to the mixture before letting it soak.
Festive feast
About 84 kg of dry fruits and nuts like cashewnuts, cherries and pistachio were mixed with 12 litres of alcohol.